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P21 Research Series Offers Advice on 21st Century '4Cs'

By Dian Schaffhauser

09/02/15

A national non-profit that promotes the precepts of 21st century learning in K-12 has released a set of reports that examine how to embed the
4 "Cs" into the classroom and assess the impact. The "4Cs" series from the Partnership
for 21st Century Learning encompasses research on creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. P21, as it's known,
developed a widely adopted framework for learning that lays out the
components required for teaching and learning, including the 4 Cs, which it considers "essential" to preparing students for the future.

Creativity, for example, distinguishes a person who can only
look up information on a smartphone from the person who can "use that knowledge in creative ways to produce valuable outcomes and solve complex
problems," the authors wrote. The report noted that creativity can be "enhanced" in the classroom by promoting "sensible risk taking and
creative expression." Even in an environment where high-stakes accountability testing constrains what goes on in the classroom, those
constraints "don't necessarily kill creativity," the report stated. "Rather, they provide situations that often necessitate creativity.
Educators and instructional leaders who recognize this will be in a better position to respond creatively to the everyday constraints facing
schools and classrooms."

Critical thinking is frequently defined, according to
the report, as "reflective, analytical and evaluative skills" used for problem solving and reaching conclusions. And it can start in elementary
school with explicit instruction where students are told that's what they're learning and shown how it's done through modeling of the
"sub-skills." Then in middle schools and high schools, the critical thinking activities should be "integrated into instruction across the
curricula" the report explained. The report recommended that assessment of these skills be performance-based or assessed within the context of
real-world scenarios.

Collaboration is a topic that needs more research. Even
definitions are hard to come by, the authors said. The traditional definition of students working in a group doesn't suffice. "Students working
in a group may not be collaborating, and students who are collaborating may never be in the same room together." In fact, the report added,
schools need to decide if the goals for this outcome should be focused on collaboration as a process, an outcome in its own right, or a
combination. Also, educators "should expose students to a mix of collaborative and non-collaborative learning experiences" and figure out which
approaches will optimize learning.

Communication is a broad competency, covering oral,
written and nonverbal communication skills; effective listening; the use of technology for communicating; and being able to evaluate the
effectiveness of communication efforts. The authors pointed out that teaching communication skills has long been focused on addressing the
needs of particular populations of students or helping teachers avoid bias when communicating with students. Now it's growing beyond that to
incorporate online learning, student-to-student communication, early-year friendship skills and other areas that are still being researched.
One recommendation made in the report was that "future study should include the development of communication assessments aimed at K-12
students, as well as more research on interventions concerning the teaching of communication skills to all students, not just those with
disabilities."

"Our goal with these research briefs was to determine what we really know about helping students develop these critical skills, and the good
news is that the research base on enhancing students' 21st century competencies is rich and thriving," said lead author Jonathan Plucker, a
professor at U Connecticut, in a prepared statement. "Though more research is needed in certain areas, we found considerable evidence of strong
conceptual, intervention, and assessment work that can guide our efforts to foster creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and
communication in our children."

P21's Soulé encouraged educators to turn to the reports to learn new methodologies for bringing the 4Cs "to life" in their schools and
classrooms." "These briefs provide insight into what the research tells us about best 4Cs practices and will inform and inspire educators so
that more students are able to reap the benefits of a 21st century learning experience."

Whitepapers

Classrooms continue to shift from the “traditional” format to more learner-centered experiences. This presents opportunities to inspire creativity in students — both in how they learn and how they interact. Modern teachers use a variety of innovative methods to spark creativity and monitor the process, which often calls for changing models in how they interact with students and present information.
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